Improvement in leggings



N. PETERS, PHOTO-LIYHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES ALBERT L. MUNsoN, on NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AssreNoE To HIM."`

PATENT OFFICE.

SELF AND SAML. T. WILLIAMS, OF WASHINGTON, D. O.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEGGINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,231. dated March 13, 1866.

To all 'whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. MUNsoN, of the city and county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Leggings for Boots, 85e.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view ofV my legging as applied. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, showing the fastening and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are modifications.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a legging made from paper, paper-pulp, or paper and Cloth, and prepared, as hereinafter described, to represent the fabric or material generally used for such purpose, which shall be adapted to take the place of the more expensive articles now in use.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and :use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and application to use.

From paper or paper and cloth of suitable strength and rigidity I stamp or cut out the legging by any of the Well-known means or devices, or I mold from paper-pulp the article and emboss its face or back, or both, to imitate the ber ofa textile fabric, the gure ofa cloth, such as Marseilles, or the grain of leather. I perforate said paper or paper and cloth to imitate the meshes or open-work of embroidery; and, further, I design applying colorprinting to one or both sides of it, that I may represent more perfect-ly the figure of a knitted or other fabric or the various colored leather now used for this purpose 5 and I design, further, to paint, enamel, or japan the aforesaid article on either or both sides thereof, that it may more closely resemble patent or glazed leather or morocco, and also to line it.

My invention is particularly designed to take the place of boot-legs, now usually made from leather and attached to or forming part of the boot. It may,however, be worn over the stocking when shoes are worn, or take the place of said article, thus covering the stocking when soiled and furnishing a cheap and neat substitute therefor, or it may be fashioned as an anklet or gaiter.

It is a Well-known fact that boots at the present day are an expensive necessity, and

thatat least one-fourth their cost is expended in the leather it takes to make the legging therefor. By using leather only for the foot, or foot and ankle, and applying my improved legging, which is of sufficient rigidity and thickness to protect and warm the limb and give the proper set to the pantaloons, much expense and labor are saved.

It is obvious to all that many ways of securing this legging` upon the limb and of attaching it to the shoe or bootee Will present themselves. A good means is that shown in the drawings, which consists in an elastic piece extending a portion or all the way down the vertical division on the inside of the legging; but it may be provided with a double row of eyelets and laced up, or it may have a row of buttons attached, and these may be buttoned into suitable holes.

It is obvious that by a slight modification of this legging it may be made to present the appearance and serve the purpose of thelegs of drawers, in which case the attachment may be to the drawers. But the terln legging is of'universal application as a designation for any article worn as a covering for the leg from the knee down, and will serve to define the limit and scope of my invention.

My improved legging can be made at a small expense, and it is believed will last nearly or quite as long as an ordinary boot or shoe.

I am aware that leggings of cloth and of leather have heretofore been made, and I therefore do not claim such but What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Y l. Alegging made wholly or partially of paper, whether united to the boot-foot as a boot-leg or separate therefrom as a gaiter or anklet or imitation of stocking-leg or drawers, all substantially as described, and whether embossed, or printed, or painted, or stained, or enameled, or perforated, or otherwise ornamented or not.

2. Making such article to open in the direction of its length.

3. Connecting the sections of said opened legging by means of elastic attachment, wheth er of cloth, band, or cord.

A. L. MUNSON.

Witnesses:

H. N. GAssAWAY, J. D. WARD. 

